In 1994, DiPrete was indicted on criminal charges relating to the awarding of state contracts during his service as governor.

[2] All charges were dismissed in March 1997 by a Rhode Island Superior Court Judge who also found the State Attorney General's office guilty of 10 findings of "egregious prosecutorial misconduct."

DiPrete agreed to this plea bargain only after receiving assurance that pending charges against one of his sons would be dismissed.

[citation needed] DiPrete was known for his "everyman" persona, serving supermarket fried chicken to guests in his Winnebago motor home.

[6] He parked the motor home outside the Rhode Island State House during a snowstorm in February 1987 so that he would be able to come to work despite heavy snowfall.